Page 24 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2016

COASTNOTES Queen
OF
Queen Ixolib 2016 joins with Ohr Museum for special project
story by Lynn Lofton photo courtesy of Gulf Coast Carnival Association
Months before her identity was revealed, Queen Ixolib of the Gulf Coast Carnival Association began having an impact on the community through a partnership with the Ohr- O’Keefe Museum of Art. The Mardi Gras organization and the museum joined forces to create some special works of art.
The 2016 queen wanted to do something to honor her reign and help support a charitable organization, according to Bill Raymond with the City of Biloxi. “So an idea was born to involve the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art Summer Camps for special needs children and Alzheimer’s patients to make the special gifts she will present to all of her invited guests at the Queen’s Luncheon the Saturday before Mardi Gras,” he said.
GCCA Captain Steve Polk noted that a donation was made to the museum and these special campers get to be a part
of Mardi Gras in a way never done before. “In creating this partnership, Queen Ixolib 2016 hopes to start a new tradition which will continue to help different organizations along the coast for years to come,” he said.
Queen Ixolib is chosen annually by the Gulf Coast Carnival Association Board of Directors in a voting process which starts soon after Mardi Gras each year. The 2016 Queen
Ixolib and her family began preparations almost immediately to ensure their part of Mardi Gras is upheld to the standards of the Gulf Coast Carnival Association. The 2015 Queen Ixolib, Alexa Carter, continues her reign until the
Coronation Ball on Monday, February 8.
Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art
386 Beach Blvd., Biloxi 228.374.5547 www.georgeohr.org
Gulf Coast Carnival Association 228.432.8806 www.gulfcoastcarnival association.com
ART
A George Ohr art class.
24 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • February 2016
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